Wanted Shiite cleric's militiamen dig in with force in Najaf's heart

[JoFerret]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040501/wl_mideast_afp/iraq_us_najaf_sadr&cid=1514&ncid=1480


NAJAF, Iraq (AFP) - The militiamen of wanted cleric Moqtada Sadr have dug in with force in the inner sanctum of the holy city of Najaf, much to the alarm of residents and rival Shiite groups, and say they want to drive US soldiers out of Iraq.

Hundreds of edgy young men from Sadr's Mehdi Army, carrying sniper and assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenade launchers....

Many more were seen on building rooftops and in alleys ....

Several pickup trucks were ferrying fighters to and from what looked like a makeshift command center just behind the mausoleum.


....


Most of Sadr's fighters are from poor Shiite families from outside Najaf province....

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

[Wright Patman]

1. 45 more civilians killed?

I have always wondered who does the body counts. The U.S. used to claim it didn't know how many Iraqis had been killed and didn't keep count. Why are they all of a sudden keeping a precise count?

[leftchick]

2. perhaps so that flightsuit boy*

can still say we are winning?

[Moderator]

3. JoFerret

Per DU copyright rules
please post only four
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DU Moderator